Recovery Footwear

What you wear on your feet affects kinetic & kinematic variables and consequently muscular activity in the lower limbs. Similarly, the lower limb muscle & foot pumps affect gait. Venous return & regional blood flow are dependent on muscle contraction & muscle fiber types, respectively. Variables such as: intensity, duration and type of activity, condition of the athlete, will also influence the venous changes induced from exercise. Shoe type influences: blood flow, venous pressures & lower limb circumference, all of which will impact venous status. A recent systematic review investigated the effect of shoes on lower limb venous status during gait or exercise. They reported unstable shoes, e.g., soft athletic shoes, improved venous variables more so than firmer conditions (Lerebourg, L’Hermette, Menez & Coquart, 2020). 

 Let’s take this one step further. You may be meticulous about the shoes you use to train in, but have you thought about your post-workout footwear, related venous status and how it may affect your recovery? Just like the during exercise, features of the shoes you wear for recovery will influence factors literally up the chain. Soft shoes that provide unstable conditions change kinetics, kinematics and increase muscle activity in the lower limbs. Associated shoe features consequently improve venous status likely due to the increased efficiency of the muscle pumps in the lower limbs. Other post-workout conditions to consider are the limb position during sitting, duration of standing & floor type, etc., all of which will impact lower leg circumference and venous status.

 While there are plenty of recovery modalities available, donning a pair of comfortable kicks is probably one of the easiest methods to eliminate stasis & promote venous return!